This side, Xie Zhan was itching to act, but Mrs. Gao stopped him, "Fourth Brother, don't go. Fists cannot see, what if they harm you? Let Fifth Brother go instead."
Gu Jiu: Was Xie Wulang picked up from the roadside? Only Xie Zhan is the real son.
Xie Zhan obediently didn't move forward, but he didn't idle either. He pulled open his slingshot and hit his mark every time. In just a few shots, the few people charging from the other side were covering their bleeding heads and crying for their fathers and mothers.
Gu Jiu very tactfully went to pick up stones for him, handing them over one by one with a flattering attitude, speeding up his rate of hitting people.
Xie San competed with her for the work, "Let Fourth Uncle use mine, the stones I picked are sharper and hurt more when hitting people."
Gu Jiu glanced at him, not bad, kid, you have potential.
On this side, the people from Huaishu Village were rubbing their fists, but Oldest Xie stopped them with a gesture, "Wait a bit more, if Fifth Brother and the others can't handle it, then we'll go. Datong, you go."
Xie Datong was from the main branch of the Xie family. He had worked as an escort for Mrs. Xu's father's escort company and had some martial arts skills. He responded and charged forward, his moves very systematic. Amid the surrounding attacks from the men of Dahu Village, he didn't fall behind at all.
The blacksmith Lu Ironsmith and his son also stepped forward. Lu Ironsmith didn't actually join the fight, just standing at the front like a doorman. When he saw someone approaching, he would slap them back with one palm without ever needing to take out the iron rod in his hand.
Lu Ironsmith's son Lu Aniu shoved the iron rod into Oldest Xie's hand, then dashed straight into the crowd. Though his hulking frame was like a small mountain, his speed wasn't slow at all. He punched here and kicked there.
Gu Jiu watched for a while, unable to help letting out a soft exclamation. This Lu Aniu was no ordinary man. His every move was smooth and effortless, and the seemingly casual punches and kicks always struck the weakest points of the human body with great skill.
He moved through the crowd like a tiger among sheep, leaving a trail of fallen men behind him.
Gu Jiu's era was full of wars. For self-protection, whether a soldier or not, everyone had to learn martial arts. Though her skills weren't that good, she had a discerning eye.
Gu Jiu could tell he was holding back. With Lu Aniu's strength and the speed and angles of his strikes, the damage he could inflict wasn't just making people unable to fight.
Gu Jiu was certain that if he got a little more serious, his opponents would immediately become dead men.
No wonder he had handed the iron rod to someone else - he must have been worried that one strike could kill.
For the son of a rural blacksmith to have such remarkable skills was hardly normal.
Moreover, shouldn't the Lu family father and son be guests in Huaishu Village? So why were they at the very front when trouble arose?
In comparison, Fifth Xie's martial arts were quite ordinary, just the standard framework taught by martial arts masters. He was bolstered by his large physique but couldn't defeat an ordinary person.
The group fight ended quickly. Although only three people from Huaishu Village had come out, they still easily defeated more than a dozen sturdy men from the other side in no time. Some were clutching their stomachs, others nursing their arms and legs, howling in pain.
Fifth Xie strode over victorious like a little rooster, swinging his arms.
Gu Jiu raised a thumbs up to him, "Fifth Brother, you're awesome!"
"Of course," Fifth Xie said proudly. "Back in the day, when I went with Uncle Xu to escort convoys, we encountered bandits on the road. I was slashing left and right..."
The Uncle Xu that Fifth Xie mentioned was the father of Mrs. Xu, Xie Er's father-in-law who ran an escort company in the county town. He was the martial arts mentor of Xie Zhan and Fifth Xie when they were young.
"Alright, that's enough," Mrs. Gao interrupted with disdain, taking out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat while commenting, "You hadn't even grown hair down there, and you're reminiscing about 'back in the day'? Back then, you were just tagging along behind your Uncle Xu, finishing off some severely injured little bandit. Yet you've been boasting about it for two and a half years now."
Fifth Xie didn't feel embarrassed at all at having his old shame exposed. He retorted, "So what if I wet the bed when I was little? My Fourth Brother did too."
Then he grinned at Gu Jiu, "Don't listen to Mother. I was really awesome. I'll tell you about my escort stories when I have time."
Mrs. Gao swatted him a few times, "Stop ruining your Fourth Brother's reputation. Your Fourth Brother was very sensible when he was little!"
Gu Jiu couldn't help but burst into laughter, glancing at the once bed-wetting immortal Xie Zhan, laughing so hard her head nearly fell off.
Xie Zhan kicked Fifth Xie's butt with his foot and glared at Gu Jiu, then said to Mrs. Gao, "Let's go back."
Gu Jiu hurried to support Mrs. Gao on the other side, her shoulders trembling as she tried to hold in her laughter.
Xie Zhan shot her a sidelong glance, slowing his steps while supporting Mrs. Gao. After the villagers who had come to watch the commotion left, he began to lecture Gu Jiu.
"The Hu brothers have kidnapped and sold countless women. Anyone who falls into their hands has no good end. You're just a young girl. If your name is associated with the Hu brothers, your reputation will be ruined. No matter what happened that day, if people know you had dealings with the Hu brothers, even their spit could drown you. Yet you insisted on getting involved, not understanding anything!"
That's why Xie Zhan kept interrupting and refused to let the Hu brothers mention the incident that day, deliberately provoking them into a fight.
Gu Jiu gave Xie Zhan a sidelong glance, acknowledging his point but feeling that he was getting back at her for laughing at him earlier.
Mrs. Gao playfully swatted Xie Zhan, chiding, "Gu Jiu is still young, speak properly."
Gu Jiu smiled mischievously, then thanked Xie Zhan, "I understand now, Xie Zhan. I'll be more careful next time. Thank you!"
Xie Zhan glared at her, saying exasperatedly, "Just call me Fourth Brother!"
Gu Jiu was puzzled why the officials didn't manage the Hu brothers who had done so many bad things, so she asked Xie Zhan, "Don't the officials govern them?"
Xie Zhan replied impatiently, "Is that your focus?"
But he still explained to her, "Most of the people they kidnap and sell are vagrants and beggars. They've established connections and bribed the constables and clerks, allowing them to run rampant all these years."
As Xie Zhan spoke, a cold gleam flashed through his eyes. Sooner or later, he would deal with the Hu brothers.
Mrs. Gao instructed Gu Jiu, "That incident is over. From now on, if anyone asks, say you didn't see them and don't know them."
"Mm, okay," Gu Jiu obediently nodded.
When they returned to their lodging, Mrs. Zhang led Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Sun in cooking some sweet potatoes and making a pot of porridge with wild vegetables and mixed grains.
Though it was bland, it was still better than the hard, inedible millet buns from the previous two days that could practically be used as projectiles. In comparison, the vegetable porridge was a delicacy.
After finishing their meal in Huaishu Village, they discussed setting off.
The route had been planned in advance.
The Immortals Dwelling Mountain Range started from Qinghe County, stretching southwest before turning west and then east, crossing half of Jingzhou.
It was impossible to travel hundreds of miles along the mountain range itself. The terrain was uneven, with cliffs in some areas that were impassable. They had to cross over the mountains and through the ancient forests to reach Shangyu County, then take the official road.
After traveling for half a day, the people from Huaishu Village discovered that the men from Dahu Village were following at a distance, not too close or too far behind.
"They're using us as pathfinders," remarked Oldest Xie.
Xie Zhan glanced back, his gaze deep and solemn as he said softly, "Let them follow."
For the sake of the women and children in their group, he would allow them to tag along. Once the women and children from their village were safely out of the ancient forest, he would have a way to deal with them.
The mountain path was rugged with many ups and downs, making it impossible to ride horses or donkeys at times. Xie Zhan and Fifth Xie would then put their luggage on the pack animals and support Mrs. Gao on either side as they walked.
Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Sun not only carried their own bundles but also led their own children by the hand.
Zhang's son Xie Daji had grown up and didn't need to be led. He looked back disdainfully at Gu Jiu and said, "How clumsy you are, can't even walk properly. Come here, let Sister-in-law lead you."
